Josephine Brooks Sammons

February 6, 1921 - March 23, 2013

Josephine Louise Milani Brooks Sammons, born February 6, 1921 in Memphis, died March 23, 2013, at her home in Collierville. She grew up in Oakville where her family owned and operated Clear pool. She attended Oakville Elementary and was a graduate of Whitehaven High School where she was valedictorian with the most academic credits and highest grade point average of any Shelby County student up to that time. She graduated from Randolph-Macon Women's College, where she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She became the first person in the history of the school to be allowed to enter as a beginning freshman at mid-term and received her Bachelor's Degree in seven semesters. She later taught high school math at Middletown High School in Middletown, VA; she was a reservations agent for Chicago and Southern Airlines; an assistant librarian at the Pulaski County Library in Little Rock, AR; secretary at Oakville Elementary School; a substitute teacher in Memphis City Schools; paralegal at Evans Petree, Cobb and Edwards; paralegal at Hamlet, Hamrick and Brown; PTA president at Oakville Elementary, Sea Iale Elementary, Colonial Junior High, Overton High and a Life Membership in Tennessee PTA; president of the Memphis alumnae of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and president of the Golden Rule Circle of Kings' Daughters. Her infant baptism was at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Memphis. She has been a member of Second Presbyterian Church since 1957 where she has served as Vacation Bible School teacher, Couples' Class secretary, New Members Class Host, Charles Gillespie Sunday School Class member where she was vice-president, secretary and caring representative, a member of the Curry-Gillespie Adult Bible Study Class, Evangelism and Outreach Committee, Christian Life Conference Greeter Chair, the New Baby Ministry, and the Man and Book Sales chairman; Women of the Church, where she received the outstanding Christian Service award, a member of the Women's Ministries Team, WOC Secretary, Resource Chairman, Caring Chairman, President and Chairman of the Priscilla Circle for over 30 years; 3M's (More Mature Members) where she was program chairman, secretary, travel chairman, kirker caller chairman, chairman for 5 years and hospitality chairman. Mrs. Sammons was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph Anthony Milani and Pierina Clara Rossanigo Milani and her husbands, Barton Caldwell Brooks and Joseph Young Sammons. She is survived by her son, Michael Barton Brooks (Jorgette), daughter, Dena Carolyn Brooks Davies (Reynolds), grandsons, Jason Michael Brooks (Rachael), Matthew Daniel Brooks, David Caldwell Davies and Barton Burns Davies, granddaughter, Emelyn Louise Davies and great-grandson, Sullivan Rhys Brooks. Services will be 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, in the Chapel at Second Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, Poplar Avenue. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Caring Ministry of Second Presbyterian Church. Online condolences may be expressed at www.memphisfuneralhome.net Memphis Funeral Home And Memorial Gardens 5599 Poplar Ave. (901)725-0100